Silene nutans L.

Taprooted perennial. Stems arising from a basal rootstock, hispid, 30–60 cm tall. Lvs hispid; lower lvs oblong- to obovate-spathulate, acuminate, long-petiolate, 3–8 cm long; upper lvs ovate to obovate, acuminate, sessile, 1–4 cm long. Infl. a 12–20-flowered panicle with an erect central axis and 3-flowered lateral branches; fls nodding, ☿; pedicels (1)–2–5 cm long; bracts lanceolate, acuminate, green. Calyx glandular-pubescent, narrow-cylindric at flowering, inflated at fruiting, narrowed at mouth, 10-veined, 13–16 mm long. Petals white, deeply 2-fid; claw not lobed, long-exserted; coronal scales narrowly triangular, acute, c. 1 mm long. Styles 3, erect, recurved at apex, c. 12 mm long. Capsule ovoid, slightly exceeding calyx, 10–12 mm long; teeth 6; carpophore 2–3 mm long. Seeds red-brown, reniform, with flat faces and grooved back, warty, c. 0.8 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Dec.; Fruiting: Dec.